Braune first identified her interest in cultivating plants at an early age. Once she was in high school and became an FFA member it was only natural that her supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program involved soil and seedlings.

“Growing plants is kind of ‘in my roots’,” said Braune.

Her SAE project provided hands-on experience and practical business training. Through this she realized she was developing soft-skills that she would use the rest of her life.